Teachers honored with garden tea ceremony

It is tea time for Cal State Long Beach. In honor of the service of two professors in the department of Asian and Asian American studies there will be a tea ceremony held today in the Earl Warren Japanese Garden from 1-2:30 p.m.

Professors Akira Miyazaki and Yoko Pusavat have been teaching at CSULB for 30 years.

"We are honoring their long and dedicated service to the Japanese culture," said Yasuko Koshiyama, professor of Asian and Asian American studies. "They really developed the Japanese program at Cal State Long Beach." They also helped develop the Japanese language in general in the United States, she said.

"When they started there was a growing number of students," said Koshiyama. "They worked hard to meet the needs of students by developing classes, holding different events, and organizing a teachers association."

The ceremony is referred to as Chanoyu, and will be led by Madam Sosei Matsumoto. She is the highest ranking tea professor outside of Japan, Koshiyama said.

"She is a master," Koshiyama said. "It is rare that she would come here."

Admission is free and there will be sweets, and of course, tea.